Hydrogen supplemental system for on-demand hydrogen generation for internal combustion engines

ABSTRACT

A portable, on-demand hydrogen generation system is provided for producing hydrogen and injecting the hydrogen as a fuel supplement into the air intake of internal combustion engines, more particularly to vehicles. Hydrogen and oxygen is produced with a fuel cell at low temperatures and pressure from water in a supply tank. The hydrogen and oxygen is passed back thru the supply tank for distribution and water preservation. The gases are kept separate by a divider in the tank and the water level in the tank. In the case of gasoline engines, the hydrogen is directed to the air intake of the engine while the oxygen is vented to the atmosphere. The device is optionally powered by the vehicle battery, a stand alone battery, waste heat of the internal combustion engine or solar energy. The system utilizes a vacuum switch or other engine sensor that permits power to the device and therefore hydrogen production only when the engine is in operation. Therefore, as the hydrogen is produced it is immediately consumed by the engine. No hydrogen is stored on, in or around the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to hydrogen generation devices. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a hydrogen supplementalsystem that can be used with internal combustion engines for increasedfuel efficiency and reduced carbon emissions.

2. Description of the related art.

There are a number of devices on the market that create HHO gas,otherwise known as Brown's gas, which is used as a supplement togasoline and diesel engines. HHO gas consists of two parts hydrogen toone part oxygen. These devices typically comprise an electrolyzer whichdecomposes water into hydrogen and oxygen. An example is U.S. Pat. No.4,023,405. These Electrolyzers typically use an electrolyte, mostnotably KOH, Potassium hydroxide, or baking soda. A voltage is placedacross the device to produce the HHO gas.

The main problem with most of these devices is that the energy requiredto produce the hydrogen creates a substantial load on the electricalsystem of the vehicle. Similar to running the air conditioner in anyvehicle, the additional electrical load causes the miles per gallons tobe reduced. Even though the hydrogen typically boosts the efficiency andmiles per gallon of the vehicle, the additional electrical load on thevehicle to create the hydrogen is usually great enough to minimize or inmany cases negate most or all of mileage gains of the vehicle.

Also, most HHO systems produce the hydrogen and oxygen in a combined gasstream. The hydrogen and oxygen gases are not generally separated fromeach other. In the case of modern gasoline powered vehicles, this extraoxygen is detected by the vehicle's oxygen sensors which communicatethis extra oxygen level to an on-board computer, namely and ElectronicControl Unit ECU of the vehicle. When the ECU detects this extra oxygen,it is a signal that the engine is running lean and the ECU adds moregasoline to the engine. This also negates most of the fuel efficiencygains.

Furthermore, HHO systems generally use either baking soda or PotassiumHydroxide KOH. KOH is generally preferred over baking soda because ofits stability and because it causes less deterioration of stainlesssteel plates or other plates used in the electrolyzer. However, KOH hasto be handled with care because it is caustic, and the crystals can bedangerous if not handled properly. The electrolyte normally has to beinserted into the unit at the proper proportions for optimum operationof the electrolyzer. Extreme care must be taken when using it. It is notthe type of product you would generally like to put in the hands of aninexperienced consumer.

Complex installation is another issue with typical HHO systems. Spaceusually has to be found somewhere in the engine compartment or outsidethe vehicle. Since all vehicles are different, finding a suitable spotunder the hood to install the device in many vehicles is next toimpossible. Also, the systems are typically connected into theelectrical systems of the vehicles which can cause blown fuses and ahost of other problems if not installed properly. Hydrogen is onlyneeded when the vehicle is actually running, not when the ignition isturned on. During the installation, care must be observed to make surethe electrical power is provided to the device only when the engine isrunning. Otherwise there can be hydrogen accumulation in the air intake.This further complicates the installation of these systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a portable and compact, on-demandhydrogen supplemental system for producing hydrogen gas and injectingthe hydrogen gas into the air intake of internal combustion engines,particularly for vehicles. Hydrogen and oxygen is produced by a fuelcell at low temperatures and pressure from water in a supply tank. Thehydrogen gas and oxygen gas is passed back thru the supply tank fordistribution and water preservation. The gases are kept separate by adivider in the tank and the water level in the tank. In the case ofgasoline engines, the hydrogen gas is directed to the air intake of theengine while the oxygen gas is optionally vented to the atmosphere. Thedevice can be powered by the vehicles alternator, a stand alone battery,waste heat or solar energy. The system utilizes a vacuum switch or otherengine sensor that regulates power to the system and therefore hydrogenproduction for the engine only when the engine is running. Therefore asthe hydrogen is produced it is immediately consumed by the engine. Nohydrogen is stored on, in or around the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and a better understanding of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description of exampleembodiments and the claims when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, all forming a part of the disclosure of this invention. Whilethe foregoing and following written and illustrated disclosure focuseson disclosing example embodiments of the invention, it should be clearlyunderstood that the same is by way of illustration and example only andthe invention is not limited thereto, wherein in the following briefdescription of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a detailed drawing of a portable hydrogen supplemental systemshowing a water tank and housing design according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic showing a portable hydrogen supplemental systeminstalled in a typical vehicle according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention as will be described in greater detail belowprovides an apparatus, method and system, particularly, for example, ahydrogen supplemental system used to increase the fuel efficiency andreduce carbon emissions for internal combustion engines. The presentinvention provides various embodiments as described below. However itshould be noted that the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described herein, but could extend to other embodiments aswould be known or as would become known to those skilled in the art.

The present invention as shown in FIG. 1 provides a portable hydrogensupplemental system 1 which includes a housing unit 2 that can besecured in the trunk or other flat surface of a vehicle by mountingbracket 3 and fastening units 4. Inside the housing unit 2 are a fuelcell 5 and a water tank 6 positioned above the fuel cell 5 arranged insuch a manner as to supply water 7 to the fuel cell by gravity. Thewater tank 6 is supported in the housing unit 2 above the fuel cell bysupporting means 8. The housing unit 2 is designed to be readilyremovable from the mounting bracket 3.

The water tank 6 includes a water supply fitting 9 positioned on theunderside thereof connected to a tube or other supply means 10 that isin turn connected to water inlet fitting 11 on the fuel cell 5. Water issupplied to the fuel cell 5 by the supply means 10. The fuel cell 5 alsoincludes hydrogen gas outlet fittings 12 and oxygen gas outlet fitting13 which are connected by tubes or additional supply means 14 and 15 togas inlet fittings 16 on the underside of the water tank 6. The watertank 6 includes at least one divider 17 that divides the tank 6 into atleast two sections, a hydrogen section 18 and an oxygen section 19. Thedivider 17 is formed along the inner wall of the tank 6 and extends toapproximately 1/4 from the bottom surface 20 of the tank 6. The tank 6includes a fill spout 21 which permits the tank to be filled with water.As water is placed into the tank 6, the tank fills evenly on both sidesof the divider 17.

The fuel cell 5, which is commonly known to produce electricity, isoperated in reverse to produce hydrogen and oxygen gases. Water fillsthe fuel cell from the water tank and when a voltage is placed acrossthe cell, hydrogen and oxygen gases are produced.

During operation of the fuel cell 5, a small amount of water, hydrogengas bubbles 22 and oxygen gas bubbles 23 emerge from the hydrogen outlet12 and oxygen outlet 13, respectively, of the fuel cell 5, and flow intothe hydrogen side 18 and oxygen side 19 of the tank 6. The bubbles risethru the water to upper air cavities 24 formed by the water level in thetank and the tank divider 17. The hydrogen and oxygen gas are keptseparate from each other in the upper cavities 24 by the divider 17 andwater level in the tank. As the hydrogen gas and oxygen gas fill theirrespective upper cavities 24, the gas flows out of the upper cavitiesthru fittings 25 in the case of hydrogen, and fitting 26, in the case ofoxygen on the upper side of the tank. The hydrogen gas flows thru tube27 connected to hydrogen fitting 28 of the housing unit 2. The oxygenflows thru tube 29 connected to fitting 30 of the housing unit 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, a vehicle 31 powered by a gasoline or diesel engine32 is equipped with the portable hydrogen supplemental system 1. Poweris supplied to the portable hydrogen supplemental system 1 by a vehiclebattery 33 connected to electrical wires 34. The electrical circuit tothe Hydrogen supplemental system includes a vacuum switch 35, or otherengine sensor and an operator controlled switch 36 which completes theelectrical circuit to the portable hydrogen generator system 1 when theengine is running. Once power is supplied to the portable hydrogensupplemental system 1, hydrogen gas flows thru hydrogen outlet tube 37connected to hydrogen fitting 28 of the housing unit 2 to an air intake38 of the vehicle's engine 32. Oxygen gas flows thru oxygen outlet tube39 and, in the case of gasoline engines with oxygen sensors, is ventedto the atmosphere. The two gasses can optionally be combined for dieselengine vehicles or other internal combustion engines without oxygensensors.

While the invention has been described in terms of its preferredembodiments, it should be understood that numerous modifications may bemade thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. It is intended that all such modifications fall within thescope of the appended claims.

1. A portable hydrogen supplemental system for supplying hydrogen gas toan internal combustion engine comprising: a housing unit; a fuel cellmounted inside the housing unit that converts water into hydrogen andoxygen gas; a water tank mounted inside the housing unit and positionedto supply water to the fuel cell; a power supply for supplyingelectrical power to the fuel cell; an engine sensor for detectingoperation of the internal combustion engine and; an operator controlswitch, wherein the water tank includes at least one tank divider whichseparates the water tank into at least two sections that are both filledwith water when water is placed into the water tank; wherein the watertank includes at least first and second gas collection cavities at a topportion thereof for collecting hydrogen and oxygen gas respectively, thegas collection cavities being formed by a top surface of the water tank,the tank divider and the water level in the water tank; wherein each gascollection cavity includes a fitting at the top thereof for distributingone of the hydrogen and oxygen gas out of the water tank; wherein thepower supply supplies electrical power to the fuel cell when the enginesensor detects that the internal combustion engine is in operation andthe operator control switch is activated; and wherein the fuel cell,when supplied with electrical power, produces hydrogen and oxygen gasesfrom the water being supplied to the fuel cell, said hydrogen and oxygengases being directed through the water tank into the respective gascollection cavities at the top thereof for proper distribution of thegases such that the hydrogen gas is supplied to the internal combustionengine for combustion therein.
 2. A portable hydrogen supplementalsystem according to claim 1, further comprising: a mounting bracketwhich mounts the portable hydrogen supplemental system to a surface ofthe vehicle which includes the internal combustion engine.
 3. A portablehydrogen supplemental system according to claim 1, wherein the watertank is positioned above the fuel cell.
 4. A portable hydrogensupplemental system according to claim 1, further comprising: a controlelectrical circuit, having a switch, which supplies electrical power tothe fuel cell when the engine sensor detects that the internalcombustion engine is in operation.
 5. A portable hydrogen supplementalsystem according to claim 1, wherein said fuel cell comprises: aplurality of layers, and wherein the electrical power is applied toopposing layers of said fuel cell in a manner to produce hydrogen andoxygen gases.
 6. A method of supplying hydrogen gas to an internalcombustion engine comprising: converting, by a fuel cell mounted insidea housing unit, water into hydrogen and oxygen gas; supplying, by awater tank mounted inside the housing unit, water to the fuel cell;detecting, by an engine sensor, operation of the internal combustionengine; supplying, by a power supply, electrical power to the fuel cellupon detecting that the internal combustion engine is in operation andan operator control switch is activated; producing, by the fuel cell,when supplied with the electrical power, hydrogen and oxygen gases fromthe water being supplied to the fuel cell, said hydrogen and oxygengases being directed through the water tank into respective gascollection cavities at the top of the water tank for proper distributionof the gases; and supplying the hydrogen gas to the internal combustionengine for combustion therein, wherein the water tank includes at leastone tank divider which separates the water tank into at least twosections that are both filled with water when water is placed into thewater tank, and wherein each gas collection cavity includes a fitting atthe top thereof for distributing one of the hydrogen and oxygen gas outof the water tank.
 7. A method according to claim 6, wherein a mountingbracket mounts the portable hydrogen supplemental system to a surface ofthe vehicle which includes the internal combustion engine.
 8. A methodaccording to claim 6, wherein the water tank is positioned above thefuel cell.
 9. A method according to claim 6, wherein a controlelectrical circuit, having a switch, supplies electrical power to thefuel cell when the engine sensor detects that the internal combustionengine is in operation.
 10. A method according to claim 6, wherein saidfuel cell comprises: a plurality of layers, and wherein the electricalpower is applied to opposing layers of said fuel cell in a manner toproduce hydrogen and oxygen gases.